Council chiefs have confirmed that the first three Syrian refugee families arrived in Ashford yesterday afternoon.

As part of it's promise to welcome up to 250 refugees over the next five years, Ashford Borough Council (ABC) has greeted the first arrivals.

Gerry Clarkson, council leader, said he felt a 'moral responsibility' to help desperate families from the war-torn country and bring them to safety in the borough.

A council spokesman said the first three families have been received as part of the government's national resettlement programme for the most vulnerable refugees.

He said: "They were in good spirits, despite being tired from their difficult journey and placed in an extremely unfamiliar situation.

"We will obviously be working very closely with the families, healthcare providers and other services in the coming days to help them settle in and try to normalise their situation as quickly as possible."

The spokesman said they would not be releasing any further information about the families until they are more settled.

He added: "We will not be pushing them at this very early stage so please bear with us on this and continue to respect their privacy."

Families will be housed in private accommodation in Newtown, Charing and Tenterden.